Monitoring System Control Unit Coupled to Device Database Via the Internet

ABSTRACT

Information as to a group of devices which are part of a monitoring system, can be accumulated in one or more databases. The databases can be addressed via a computer network, such as the Internet. Monitoring systems can access one or more of the databases seeking identification of those devices that correspond to a selected criterion. A database can provide serial numbers of devices that meet the selected criteria. The respective monitoring system can determine if any local devices have serial numbers that match the received serial numbers. A trouble indicator can be generated in response thereto.

FIELD

The application pertains to alarm monitoring systems and methods wherein data pertaining to devices in such systems can be retrieved from a common database. More particularly, the application pertains to such systems and methods wherein pre-stored information concerning device status can be retrieved from a common database via a computer network such as the Internet.

BACKGROUND

Monitoring systems, to detect fire conditions, gas concentrations, or intruders into a premises are known and very useful. Such systems might each include dozens or hundreds of detectors or other monitoring devices. At times there is a need to locate various of the detectors or devices based on a specified parameter. For example, a specific batch of devices might need to be located. Batches might be defined by a specified manufacturing facility, date, design version or the like. Determining where the detectors or devices of interest are installed can be a very laborious and time consuming activity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a system in accordance herewith;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart which illustrates aspects of a method in accordance herewith; and

FIG. 3 is a flow chart which illustrates additional aspects of a method in accordance herewith.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While disclosed embodiments can take many different forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and will be described herein in detail with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles thereof as well as the best mode of practicing same, and is not intended to limit the application or claims to the specific embodiment illustrated.

In one aspect, embodiments hereof can query a database for serial numbers of detectors or devices of interest, based on a specified criterion, which might have been installed in a particular monitoring system, or a plurality of monitoring systems. In response thereto, those serial numbers can be compared to the serial numbers of devices or detectors installed in a monitoring system. This process can be conducted substantially in parallel by each member of a plurality of monitoring systems.

For example, the database could have stored therein serial numbers of detectors or devices made at a designated plant, or in accordance with a particular design or revision to a design. Other possibilities include, without limitation, detectors with a particular month or year of manufacture, or those that exhibit predetermined quality characteristics. Serial numbers of detectors or devices with other types of characteristics, without limitation, can also be stored in a database.

In another aspect, control units, or control panels of monitoring systems can be in communication with the database via a computer network, such as the Internet. Based on a query from the control panel, one or more serial numbers of detectors or devices that fit the characteristics provided in the query can be automatically downloaded from the database to the control panel.

The control panel can then automatically compare the received serial numbers to those coupled to that control panel and determine which if any have a serial number that is the same as one of those received from the database. Detectors or devices with matching serial numbers can be identified for removal or other processing.

FIG. 1 illustrates a combination 10 in accordance herewith. The combination 10 includes a plurality of monitoring systems 12-1, -2 . . . -n each of which is associated with a particular region such as R1, R2 . . . Rn being monitored. The regions Ri need not be physically near one another.

System 12-1 is representative of the remaining systems 12-2 . . . 12-n and a description of system 12-1 shall suffice as a description of the remaining systems as would be understood by those of skill in the art. System 12-1 includes a control unit, or panel 12 a. Components of panel 12 a include control circuits 12 b which could be implemented at least in part by a programmed processor 12 c and executable control instructions 12 d. Circuits 12 b are coupled to and communicate with local storage 12 e which can store information including serial numbers, conditions of interest, lists of detectors and the like, all without limitation.

The control panel 12 a can also include a wired interface for communicating with wired devices or detectors 12 h which are coupled to the interface 12 f by a plurality of detector wired loops 12 i. The panel 12 a can also include a wireless interface 12 g. Interface 12 g can provide wireless communications to a plurality of wireless devices 12 n which without limitation could include various types of ambient condition detectors, thermostats, door and window monitoring units, all without limitation. The wireless interface 12 g can also provide communication with one or more computer networks, for example via an Ethernet connection to the internet I.

The systems 12 i function independently of one another but all are internet enabled either wirelessly, or by broadband cable and can communicate via the Internet I with one or more cloud servers such as 20-1 . . . 20-1. The one or more cloud servers are in turn coupled to databases 22-1 . . . 22-p. It will be understood that the servers 20-I and databases 22-I can be associated with different manufacturing sites. The database(s) can include information pertaining to detectors or devices, which can be automatically searched in response to a supplied key, parameter, or characteristic, all without limitation.

FIGS. 2, 3 illustrate aspects of methods 100, 200 of operation of the system 12-1 in conjunction with a server 20-I and a database 22-i. It will be understood that while methods 100, 200 relate to determining if one or more detectors associated with panel 12 a are in conformity with a predetermined condition, other conditions or criteria can be used to determine the locations and/or status of various of the detectors or devices such as 12 h, or 12 n all without limitation.

In FIG. 2, a user can put the control panel 12 a of system 12-1 for example, into a mode to locate non-conforming detectors or devices, as at 102. The panel can determine the serial numbers of attached devices or detectors, as at 104.

A web server can be accessed by the panel, as at 106. The panel 12 a can send a request to the database, such as 22-1, to identify non-conforming devices, as at 108.

Where the server is reachable, as at 110, the request is responded to and where there are non-conforming devices to report, as at 112, the control panel can specify addresses of local devices to be reported, as at 116.

In FIG. 3 processing 200 at the server 20-1 and database 22-1 is illustrated. An incoming request is received as at 202. The type of request is evaluated as at 204. If a serial number request is received, a determination is made, as at 206, as to the proper server to respond. The appropriate database is queried, as at 208. Information as to that serial number can be return to the control panel, for example panel 12 a, as at 210.

Where serial numbers that might be collected on a specified list are requested, as at 212, the respective database is queried for all of the serial numbers that have a selected flag set, as at 214. The appropriate group of serial numbers can then be returned to the requesting panel, as at 210.

In summary, in embodiments hereof a control panel can access a displaced database for information, for example a group of serial numbers, which are associated with a predetermined parameter, condition or state, without limitation. That information can then be returned to the panel so that those detectors, or devices in the group and associated with that panel can be removed, tested or adjusted as needed. This process can be on-going, essentially simultaneously at a plurality of panels such as 12-1 . . . 12-n.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope hereof. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims. Further, logic flows depicted in the figures do not require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. Other steps may be provided, or steps may be eliminated, from the described flows, and other components may be add to, or removed from the described embodiments. 

1. A method comprising: providing a plurality of devices to be evaluated in connection with a predetermined standard; providing a machine readable serial number for each device; providing a machine readable database which includes device information; obtaining device serial numbers from the database in accordance with the standard; and comparing the serial numbers received from the database to those of members of the plurality, and, responsive to the results of the comparison, automatically determining which, if any of the members of the plurality are not in compliance with the standard.
 2. A method as in claim 1 which includes providing a control unit which communicates with the devices and the database.
 3. A method as in claim 2 wherein the control unit can automatically interrogate the database for information identifying those devices to be located do to non-compliance.
 4. A method as in claim 3 which includes establishing at the control unit a sub-plurality of located, non-compliant devices.
 5. A method as in claim 4 which includes generating a list of members of the sub-plurality.
 6. A method as in claim 4 which includes signaling a trouble alarm as to those members of the sub-plurality.
 7. A method as in claim 6 wherein the control unit can automatically signal the trouble alarm.
 8. A method as in claim 4 which includes providing a web-based server coupled to the database.
 9. A method as in claim 8 where the control unit communicates with the server via a computer network.
 10. An apparatus comprising: a monitoring system which includes a control unit, and, a plurality of monitoring devices, wherein the devices each communicate with the control unit; and a database in communication with the control unit, the database including information as to devices which need to be located, wherein the control unit includes circuitry to automatically obtain information as to the devices to be located from the database.
 11. An apparatus as in claim 10 wherein the control unit includes circuitry to automatically compare a plurality of local monitoring device serial numbers to a group of serial numbers from the database to determine which local devices need to be located.
 12. An apparatus as in claim 11 wherein the control unit includes circuitry to form a list of those determined local devices.
 13. An apparatus as in claim 12 wherein, responsive to the identified devices, output circuitry of the control units emits trouble indicia indicating those identified detectors which need to be removed from the system.
 14. An apparatus as in claim 10 wherein the database is displaced from the control unit and communicates therewith via a computer network.
 15. An apparatus as in claim 14 wherein the database communicates via a cloud based server.
 16. An apparatus comprising: at least one database; and a monitoring system which is coupled to a plurality of local devices wherein information as to a group of devices can be accumulated in the database, and where the database can be addressed by the system, via a computer network, seeking identification of those local devices that correspond to a selected criterion where the database can provide serial numbers of devices that meet the selected criteria, wherein responsive thereto, the monitoring system can determine if any local devices have serial numbers that match the received serial numbers, and a trouble indicator can be generated in response thereto.
 17. An apparatus as in claim 16 wherein the criteria can be selected from a class which includes at least, date of manufacture, location of manufacture, recall notices, design designation, product introduction date and selected product materials. 